Controlling valve for engines actuated by steam or other motive fluid



L. A. DARLING COWRGLLWG VALVE FQR ENGINES ACTUATED B'l' STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE FIiUID Filed Dec. 19, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

Aug. 5, 924.

Lj.:,'A.' DARLING CONTROLLING VALVE FOR ENGINES ACTUATED BY STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE FLUID 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 5, 19 24,

Lew s teatime, or rnlnanstrnre,

tsoaeea rnnnsvrvama, assrenon T0 ELECTRIC SERVICE SUPPLIES COMPANY, OF IHILADELEHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

eemaomma VALVE non ENGINES ACTUAV'IED BY STEAM on 6mm MOTIVE FLUID.

Application filed. December 19, 1918. Serial No. 267,464.

To all-whom it mayconcerna V Be it known that I, Lew-Is A. DARLING, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, I'haveinvented certainnew and useful Improve: ments in Controlling Valves for Engines Actuated by Eite am or Other Motive .Fllllid, whereof the following is a specification, referenoe being had to the accompanying drawi 'g (j h. l,

My invention is especially'adapted for use as a controlling valve for such a motor :device as a steam turbine generator, the-.sys tem comprising in thisinstance, a speed governor, whereby1thetvalve is moved automatically to vary the supply of steam to the turbine wheel. 1 a p In the accompanying idrawings,'F-ig.wI, represents a verti'cal aXia1 section through the valve and adjacent portion .ofthe cas ing. 'showing,i in side elevation, the arm which isrocked by the governor device. a

- Fig. II, is a transverse sectioirof the valve, and its enclosing sleeve on the line II,II,otFig.I;- Fig; III, is 'a'similar transverse section on the line III, III. 2' t 1 Fig. IV, is an axial sectional view through a modified form of the devicel L Fig. V, is an axial sectional view through another modified for-m thereof. vi a a. Certain elements are commonto all these forms; thus broadly speaking, the embodi ments shown all comprise group of parts that affords a mounting for the valve proper and the associated operating; parts, and is V itself adapted to be mounted and secured'in an opening or bore in a casing. This system comprises a sleeve that serves as case for the valve device, and is'providedtwith internal passages or ports locatedat ditler ent longitudinal intervals, one of whichipas; sages receives the steam fromthe source of supply, whilst the other delivers the same to the, turbine wheel. 5-;

The opening or bore inwhich the sleeve above referred to is mounted, extends ';SO as to include overlapping portions of these passages, and the sleeve itself contains; a plun g;- er or pistonvalve-movable longi-tudinally or endw'ise with relation thereto,.th e valve being aotuated in onefldirection'bytmeans of an externally protruding 1 stem vcoo-operating with the governing mechanism zbut being moved in the other direction by means or a spring. :1 r {Apart -fromr the difl'erences of'structural detail, themain difference between theitype shown. in. Fig. I, and those shown'. iiiiFi'gs. IV; and V, consists'in the factithat'the dc vice ?of Fig. I, is notfa=completelybalanced valve, Whilst thesdevices shown; in Figs: IV, andvV, are substantially. balanced: valves Referring wnow ,to the forms shown :-in Figs. I, II, and 111,51, indicates a portion of the casing structure for such a device as a steam turbine generator, which casing may be part of, or separate fronr the casing proper of the: turbine.v Connected with this casing is a supply pipe 2, which leads from any convenient sourceyand which may be provided with a strainer 20. .A lateral inlet passage 3, is formedin the casing, and communicates with the passage 2 .-Also formed in thepcasing, butlin another plane from that of: the passage :2, is an. outlet passage 4, which is adapted to deliver the steam to the nozzle for the turbine. Aswill be apparent from Figk-I, whilst thesefpassages are situated'inn-different planes,-. they are disposed in overlapping relation to one another.

Another passage 21, is alsow'formed' in the casing at a stilldifferent plane, and extends above the overlappingmregion of the passages 3, and 4-, 7 said passage 21, communicating with ,a region of suitable given pressure,in this instance the passage'4, through a vertical passage '22. An opening or bore (in this instancecylindrical, and with a vertical axis,)"isforn1ed through the casing and intersects the overlapping portions of the passages 3, 4, and 2 1, said opening beingadaptedto receive the controlling valve system, which comprises the followingparts, .v1z.

antouterisleeve. 5, is threaded into the: vertijcal openingofthechamber, the upper end of said sleeve beingrlocated within the pass sage-21, and-being providedwith a slot 12, wherebyrit may be screwed :into' position, or unscrewed.- The sleeve 5,'-;has, it willbe seen, a- {fia'11ge its u'ppfer end,-.i so" that when screwed, home it is held'firmly seated and fixed. The lower end of the sleeve or case 5 protrudes from its bore in the structure 1.

The sleeve 5, has an inner cylindrical axial chamber 6, preferably similar in diameter throughout-the greater portion of its extent, but terminating at the bottom in a reduced opening, which permits the passage of the valve operating stem or plunger 16, which ill be described later on.

Said sleeve 5, is provided with two sets of radial passages preferably arranged at quadrant intervalsand staggered, said passages being located respectively opposite to the overlapping regions of the chambers 8, and 4.- Thus, the ports 8, afford communication from the supply passage 8, to the interior of the chamber 6, and the ports 7, in a like manner, afford communication tothe passage 4:.

Fitting snugly'within the chamber, though capable of free endwise movement therein, is a plunger valve body 9, of generally cylindrical form but having an extended cutaway portion, adjacent to'its central region, as indicated at 10, so as to aiiord an elongated. interspace between the wall of the sleeve 5 and'the valve body, throughout a region corresponding with the length ofthe cutaway portion. 7

hen, therefore, the valve body 9, is located at such a vertical height within the sleeve as to bring the reduced portion into I partial or complete communication with the ports 7, and .8, a controlled communication is established between said'groups of ports and consequently between the supply and de livery passages.

The reduced portion of the valve body terminates at each extremity, in a well defined shoulder, such as 11, which is adapted to present a symmetricaledge to the opening when the valve is in an open position, and whichsharply cuts ofi'the communication when the valve body is in such position that the reduced portion no longer is opposite to the respective groups of ports.

It is obvious that by raising or lowering the valve body, the communication between the supply and delivery passages may be completely controlled from an entirely open position on the one hand, to an absolute closure 011 the other, and that between these limits a well defined and delicate control of the flow of steam may be effected, so that it can be accurately throttled.

Above the portion of the opening or bore in which the valve sleeve is located, a somewhat larger prolongation of this openinggcoaxial therewith, is formed in the top of the casing, into which is threaded a closure in the form of a hollow cap or plug 13, adapted to 'form a tight joint and co-operate with the sleeve as part of the valve-mounting structure. The valve body is provided with a plunger 16, which, in this instance, is 2.

separate rod fitting loosely-within a cylindrical axial cavity in the body, which cavity is closed at the top and slightly conical atv its upperextremity. The. upper end of the rod 16 engages the conically concaveend of the valve body cavity Eto actuate the.

valve 9 in oppositionto the spring15,but not attached or connected to the valve. The.

upper extremity of the valve body is somewhat reduced inexternal' diameter, to afford' an extension or projection 2a with an :ap-

proximately conical end, forming a reduced bearing lug.

projectionfl l, and a coiled ,spring15, is interposed between the flanged portion of this abutment memberand the under side or bot tom of-the cap 13, said spring being so arranged as to besomewhatcompressed when the cap 13, is screwed into position; 7

An abutment plate 14, of 1101- low conical form, with horizontallyflanged peripheral portions, rests upon thetop of. the

7 The lower extremity otthegplunger 16,

operatively engages the governing mechanism or connectiombeing shown in this in- I stance as resting upon the head 18, of an adjustable screw mountedin the outer extremity of the rockarm 17, of the governing device, a transverse screw 19, being provided to clamp the screw 18, and retain it in any fixed position of adjustment.

From the above descriptionit will be seen that when the actuatingmember or. plunger 16, is raised, or positively shifted 7 by the governing mechanism, the reduced portlon of the 'valve'body. can be brought into any desired relation to the ports7,and

tion, by the extension of the spring 15, when this action is permitted by the receding movement of the governing arm 17. As

above stated, the passage-way 21, within which the sleeve 5, terminates'at its upper extremity, communicates by the passage 22,

with the passage 4, so that the upper portion of thevalve body is under steam pressure corresponding to that which exists at. any

given moment in the passage 4:. The lower I extremity of the valvebody, however, is subjected to the pressure which exists in the lower end of the chamberfi, and which is in a certain sense, indeterminate, because it' depends upon the leakage which may' exist at the opening through which the plunger leads at the bottom of the sleeve, as com- V pared with the leakage which exists between V the lower extremity of the chamber 6, and the passage 4t.

It will be noted'that in the embodiment 7 shown, the passages are so located as to drain towards the turbinecasing, and thus T prevent the accumulation of water of con deesiefibh at My tf t f iii the 'eiSt-iit yv-hl'eh 1s particularly important as against freezing under exposed 'condltlons, and also prevents "deterioration from corrosion due 'to trapped *fmoistur e.

passages at 3 and 34, respectively, the upgperpassage 42 andthe sleeve "at 35;. In this instance,- the opening or bore in the casing adjacent to the overlapping region of the lpassagea is not Wholly cylindrical ,,but is in part slightly conical, to receive the coras en-dingy coned poirtionBG of the sleeve hr valve ease, only the lower portion 3?, of t el e' e g y dr l e re be g jih adedte ;engage the corresponding- 1y resets lovver portion bf the opening'in the casing.- c llh e' sleeve is prev-ided With the ports 38, see 3% respectively communicating tvith the pverlapping regions of the joassages 33, and 34:, The valve body 40, has (as in the case before dserihed) anextended reduced portio'ii near its iongitudinal ,centralregion, so

as to permit ,commuhication between the supply and d'eliver'y passage-Ways, through the port's 38 and 3,9. In this instance, the region of suitablegiven pressure with which the pafss'age way, 42, invvhichthe upper extremity of the sleeve 35;, is located,.communicates (by a passage 4:3) is not the valve biltlet '34,- as in Fig.1, but an external one, iii this instance the atmosphere. So also, the lower portion 44, of the internal cavity off the sleeve communicates by a passage e5, With a similar external pressurere'giomso that the v-a lve joa-rts are under substantially balancedpressure. The arrangement of the actuating member or plunger 46, abutment 7 plate 47, spring 48, and cap 49,, are substan? tially similar to those before described; and the general; operation ofthe device be apparent, it ,being noted that, the conical portion 36', of the sleeve can be brought into ahsblutely tight eontactwith the opening. in the casing b'y means of th'e screw threaded engagement at the region- 37.

.In th'e' forrn efthe device hovvn V; the general arrangement ofthe main parts is similar" to that of Figs. 1-, and IV.

a this instance, however, the entire sleeve e eeive a e e. w

has a p' lain conical external con-tour, as strewn-at 52; and is forced into engagement ivitltthe Wall er the receiving cavity by means oi the thfeaded ean 5],.

F at-tasters, the valve boa jsiie gases in this instandelasintegralwith its actuat' tngm 6r rod 56, cylindrical s a-n x- -fin,sien-- ,or reduced ldiameteg heing. pro ease at"- the asset portion-oi the valve hotly,

58, which bears dile'cay u on at stands? 59, otthefvalve l body instead of bearing upon an interposedlabutmentfplate. It will be noted, however, .that in. this instance, the spring 58, is of an inverted conicalfcontour, so that the area ot thebearing portion at tlie lower extremityof the jspring is "suhstantiallyreduced, as compared with the hear ing, portion at the upper extremity, thus tending to centralize 'the'thriist of the spring against thehp per portion of the valve body.

In this instance the passageway '60,,"cornmimic-ates With the, internal cavity of the 5 1, ineansof the Jslctit, or groove 61:,

and also communicates xvith a region of given ;pressure, in, t ne ill fl i li i the at ph by Jiifii 6i fie pa se-w y 6 -11 w remity- 3,9 he Qp n 'ns vithin the sleeve communicates ivith saidre- 'g ionof pressure by thejenlargd passage- ,7

we a h f v h he. ha e apeiee e. etf e we e r mi y. t e i et hence this type of valve is substantially balanced.

, The seven Swansea as sayabove described and others Which may, correspond substantially thereto. in principle, tho-ugh difi'erent in detail. andyvhi ch I deside to include in myclaims), are peculiarly adapted to use in the exceptionally severe service which is found in loc'oinotiv'e head lighting. a In such valves 1t 1s very ,important to reducethe indeterminate friction to the lowest point, since it is a factor hose intensity varles more or less, de endm upon the length of time the valve is in use, the condltlon of the surfaces which are in active-co-operation, the differences dueto quality of i'v'ater and boiler ompa ses found in. various sections of an e'zitended country like the United States, etc. I,

It will he noted that when separate plunger rod is employed to actuate the valve body the mechanical friction isredueedby extending said rod u to a point near the top of the body. Moreover, the top end of the, valve body is cone-shaped eiztei nally and co-operates with aloosely mounted abutment plate, which ensuresthe applica tionof the spring tension asnea'r as possible a in an axialline corresponding to the axisof the valve body, hence there is little or no lateralpressure which ivould tend to make valve body bind in moving Within the sleeve. A VJ When the plunger rod is madeiintegral vviththe valve body, as in the caseo'li the bearing region of the spring is gen t aliv ed bji tl'le arrangement shovvn, to pro nee-a similar result.

speakin broadly, n; say be Said: that this feature is dueto the. fact that the force hi h ltb W th @11 5 m y; e @1 ee ie eappl gda. c n ic v erase 33t idem? i-h 5 ,7 resist the raising of the valve. is applied.

iio

' less operator.

The structural characteristics of the valve body and its relation to the sleeve and the Openings, therein, are such as to permit extreme accuracy of control and ensure satisfactory operation under the most varying conditions'of internal steam pressure.

Furthermore, for the purposesof assemblage, access, repairs and adjustment, etc.,

the structural organization has great advan-.

tages, in that the entire working system can be readily withdrawn by unscrewing the covering cap, and, in the instance shown in- Figs. 1, and IV, then unscrewing the sleeve to whose upper extremity complete access is thus afforded.

Similarly, the parts can be assembled with great accuracy and without the possibility of mistaken arrangement, even by' a care- Thus, referring to Fig. I; inorder to adjust the valve for general conditions, remove the cap 13, spring 15, and abutment plate 14:, and raise or lower the nut 18, so as to shift the valve body until the shoulder around the projection 24, at the upper extremity of the valve body is level with the top Surface Y of the sleeve. This adjustment can be made without hav ing to remove the whole valve structure, or even anyof the vital working parts. Moreover, while the shoulder of the valve device 9 is visible at the top Y of the valve case 5 as soon as the cap 13 is removed, the indicator cooperation of valve device and valve case can be utilized by feeling (directly or mechanically), even in the dark It will also be noted that in all the types shown, the drainage naturally follows the course described in connection with Fig; I, so that accumulation of moisture or dripping in the valve is effectually prevented. It will .be understood, however, that I do not limit all my claims to such vertical arrangement of the parts. 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination of a casing having overlapping isolated passages arranged in different planes and an opening intersecting said passages; a valve mounting structure in said opening comprising a sleeve held firmly seated and fixed by screw threaded engagement of said structure with said casing, said sleeve having ports which communicate with the aforesaid passages in the casing; a valve body longitudinallymovable in said sleeve and cooperating with said ports to control the passage of fluid therethrough; and yielding means mounted in said valve mounting structure whereby said valve body is normally urged in one direction in said sleeve.

2. In a controlling valve, the combination of a casing having overlapping isolated passages arranged in different planes and an opening intersecting said passages, two of said passages constituting, respectively, inlet and outlet passages for the valve, and another being 1n communication with a-=su1table pressure region; a valve mounting structure in said opening comprising a sleeve having ports which communlcate with the aforesaid inlet and outlet passages,

and having its interior in communication,

at one end, with said other passage a: valve body longitudinally movable in said sleeve and having a reduced portion sufli'cient in extent to include said ports, one end of said valve body being exposed to the pressure in the interior of said sleeve at the end aforesaid;and anactuating rod forsaid-valve extending out through said mounting struc tur at the other end of the valve.

3. A devicein accordance with claim 2,.

including a cap separate from said sleeve screwed into the said opening in the casing,

and a compression spring acting between said-cap and said valveibody tourge the latter longitudinally in said sleeve. V

4. The combination of a casing having isolated. passages arranged in different planes, and having an opening transverse means for'shifting the valve body longia t-udinally within said sleeve. I

5. A valve group comprising th follow ing members in combination; aseat element having an axial opening with lateral ports arranged at different planes; avalve body longitudinally movable within said seat, and

having a reduced external'portion suflicient in extent to'include said ports, said valve body having an axial cavityopen at one.

end and terminating at the other end in a concave tapering surface; an external bearing lug upon 5' the I end of said valve.

body; a plunger'fittin'g loosely within the cavity'of thevalve body and provided with a reduced extremity adapted to engage cen trally within the concave extremity of the.

cavity; resilient means, operatively engaging said bearing lug, and tending normally 7 said opening comprising a sleeve held firmly seated-and fixed by screw threaded engagement of said structurewithsaid casing, said sleeve having ports which communicate with the aforesaid passages in the casing; a valve and other. means tons hitting said valve body longitudinally in said sleeve comprising an actuating member progectingfrom the end of the latter oppositewthatacted on by said spring means.

7. A valve comprising a valve casing, a valve piston therein and a sliding valve operating stem unconnected with but in contact with said piston and a governor member adapted to contact saidvalve stem and actuate said valve piston.

8. A governor valve comprising a valve casing a hollow valve piston therein and a valve operating stem surrounded by and in contact with but unconnected with said valve piston, and ayielding member inopposition thereto.

9. In a fluid engine, a valve comprising a valve casing, a plug, a valve operating stem and a valve piston positioned between said plug and said stem and in contact with said stem, said valve piston adapted to be held normally in open position.

10. The combination of a casing structure having passage for motive fluid and an intersecting conical bore; a hollow closure for the large end of said bore; a ported sleeve in said bore protruding from its small end; a longitudinally movable valve body in said sleeve, with an endwise extension; and a spring in said closure acting on said extension.

11. The combination of a casing structurehaving passage for motive fluid and an intersecting bore; a valve mounting 1n said bore including a ported sleeve and a hollow plug; a longitudinally movable valve body in said sleeve with an endwise extension; and

a spring in said plug acting on said extenincluding a ported sleeve and a hollow plug; a longitudinally movable valve body in said sleeve with an endwise extension; a sprlng in said plug; and a member interposed between said spring and the end of said extension.

13. The combination of a valve casing including a casing structure with passage for 12. The combination of a valve mounting with said piston said valve piston being visible the top of said valve case when said closure is removed, and cooperating with the top of the case as an adjustment indicator; and a governor member adapted to contac-tsaid valve stem and actuate said valve piston.

14;. The combination of a valve mounting I including a ported sleeve and a hollow plug;

a longitudinally movable valve body in said sleeve with an endw se extens on; a spring, n said plug:- ao tmgon said extension; and

a valve operating stem unconnected with but engaging said valve body.

The combination ot acasing structure having passage for motive fluid and an intersecting bore; a ported valve case in said bore with one end protruding therefrom and having a reduced opening; a longitudinally movable valve body in said case; a spring urging said valve body toward the last-mentioned end of said case; and a valve operating stem extending into said case from said last-mentioned end thereof, with its end engaging said valve body to actuate the latter in opposition to said spring, but unconnected to the valve body.

16. The combination of a valve case with reduced opening at one end; a longitudinally movable valve in said case; and a valve operating stem extending through said reduced opening and engaging said valve body, but unconnected therewith; with means of communication whereby the upper and lower ends of said valve body are exposed to similar pressures.

17 The combination of a casing structure having passage for motive fluid and an intersecting bore; a ported valve case in said bore; a longitudinally movable hollow valve body in said case, open at one end; a spring ur 'ing said valve body one way in said case; an a valve operating stem extending into said valve body from its open end and en gaging it at the bottom of its cavity.

18. The combination of a valve case; a longitudinally movable hollow valve body therein open at one end, and having an end wise extension at the other end; aspring acting on said extension; and a valve operating stem extending into said valve body from its open end, and engaging it at the bottom of its cavity.

19. The combination of a casing structure having passage for motive fluid and an intersecting bore; a ported valve case in said bore with one end protruding therefrom, and having a reduced opening; a longitudinally movable hollow valve bocy in said case, open at one end; a spring urging said valve body toward the last-mentioned end of said case; and a valve operating stem ex tending into said case and said valve body from the protruding end of the case, and engaging the bottom of the cavity of the valve body to actuate the latter in opposition to said spring. 20. The combination of a valve case; a 5 longitudinally movable hollow valve body therein open at one end, and having an interior concave tapered surface at its other end; a spring urging said valve body one Way in said case; and a valve operatin 10 stem loose in said valve body cavity and engaging its concave end surface to actuate the valve body the other Way.

:21. The combination of a valve casing; a valve piston therein; a sliding valve opcrating stem unconnected With but in con- 15 tact with said piston; and a governor member adapted to contact said valve stem and actuate said valve piston; said valve piston cooperating With the top of the case as an adjustment indicator.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this tenth day of December, 1918.

JLEWISA; DARLING.

Witnesses: v

JAMES H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON. 

